That's All Montana...

     After leaving Hardin Montana we headed west through Billings and up the Yellowstone River to Livingston Montana where we stayed 2 weeks.  We really enjoyed this RV campground, our backyard was the Yellowstone River and we could walk down and fly fish at any time...the water was warm enough we didn't need our waders unlike the Big Horn which was frigid.  We took a drive one day up to the Gallatin River to fish.  This was absolutely the most breathtaking place to fish, but this is the wild and we have to be aware of our surroundings at all times...this is bear country, and I don't have bear spray.  So you cast a few times, and look around...cast a few times, and look around.  The water up there was a lot colder and I was a bit nervous about my surroundings fishing away from Dwain and in hip deep water, when I turned and I lost my balance and slipped, down I went into the river, boy was I ever so grateful that I had my waders on and didn't get submerged completely only about a gallon of icy cold water went into my wadders at least not the whole river...you have never seen anyone jump up so quickly.  It is pretty tricky to walk in rushing water and we recognize going slow is the key to not getting swept away.  

Dwain fly fishing down river on the Gallatin River

Dwain and Eric, playing camera shy...

      We took another full day guided fly fishing raft trip while we were there.  Our guides name was Eric, and we spent the day on the Yellowstone River.  The day started out beautiful, the river was not as muddy as it had been due to all the nightly rain we had been getting so the fishing was really decent after all.  After catching numerous fish each during the morning, we stopped for lunch.  Our guide had brought a great asian salad and  rotisserie chicken breasts...and white chocolate chunk cookies for desert.  I guess he got the memo NO mayonnaise on my sandwich.  He was probably a little fearful when he got the message that the lady doesn't want MAYO.   Just as we were finishing our lunch we had decided to do a little wade fishing from the gravel bar we were on, when the sky opened up and a full on lightning/rain storm started.  Well, this is awesome...on the river in a metal boat...NOT.  We spent the next 1 1/2 hrs sitting on the gravel bar far away from the boat till it blew over.  The best part is when it rains, the rain is really cold and of course we were not prepared for rain and have no rain jackets.  Luckily for me Eric our guide had 2 jackets, one for me and one for him.  Hmmmm Dwain had to improvise...hence the Hefty bag.  Eric and I were rolling it was so funny, and Dwain was very entertaining.  A terrific day overall, we caught a lot and fully enjoyed our guide and all of his direction and expertise.

BAGMAN...

One of many rainbows I caught that day

Dwain with his 1st catch on this float...a nice rainbow trout

     
 

Great lunch on the River

      We really enjoyed this small town, they had a great museum cute shops and yummy eateries.  We also found this unique daycare center for adults.  You have to appreciate the humor...
     This has been really a great time for Dwain and I.  We have found another activity that we really enjoy doing together, Fly Fishing.  So we took the plunge and bought a boat.  We have taken 3 guided fishing trips 2 were in drift boats and one in a raft.  Dwain did a lot of research and with advise from our last guide we chose the NRS 14' Otter Raft.  We picked one up in Wolfcreek MT by the Missouri River just before we headed to Idaho.  We got a smoking deal, it is a 2013 and was used just this season.  We cannot wait to use it, especially this winter down in Yuma on the river.

Dwain's DayCare...

            Our new Toy...NRS 14' Otter Raft , what
            great fun this will be for us...

Me...outside of a museum, this is a house that was built in 1885, with an outdoor privy.  All I can say is I am so grateful for indoor plumbing we have now!!!